Regina v Hassan [1977] FJSC 140; Criminal Case 7 of 1977 (29 September 1977)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI
(WESTERN DIVISION)
AT LAUTOKA
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION

Criminal Case No. 7 of 1977

BETWEEN

REGINA

AND

1. ALI HASSAN
s/o Abdul Rahiman
2. RANJIT SINGH
s/o Ram Singh
3. RAVINDRA SINGH alias MINDO
s/o Santa Singh

Mr. Ikbal Khan, Counsel for the Prosecution
Dr. M.S. Sahu Khan, Counsel for the three accused.

JUDGMENT

Ali Hassan, Ranjit Singh and Ravindra Singh are charged with murder. I have directed myself in accordance with my summing up to the Assessors. Each of the assessors has given me his opinion that each of the accused is guilty of murder as charged. The Court is satisfied that the statement given by each of the accused to the police was not fabricated. The Court is also satisfied that each of the confessions is true, and that as a matter of fact it was possible for the offence to have been committed in the manner alleged by the prosecution. The Court is also satisfied that the murder was planned. The accused Ali Hassan, Ranjit Singh and Ravindra Singh are therefore found guilty of murder as charged and each is convicted of that offence.

The accused Ali Hassan is 24 years of age, the accused Ranjit Singh 19 and the accused Ravindra Singh 21. In the opinion of the Court all have probably been influenced by an older man and in my view that provides a cause for not sentencing the accused to death. One Assessor has also added a recommendation to mercy. Each of the accused Ali Hassan, Ranjit Singh and Ravindra Singh will be sentenced to life imprisonment.

(Sgd.) K.A. Stuart

JUDGE

LAUTOKA,
29th September, 1977.

Director of Public Prosecutions for the Crown;
Messrs. Sahu Khan & Sahu Khan, Solicitors, Ba,
Solicitors for the three accused.